Beyond the dilapidated walls of Iskar City, a sprawling village unfolded, its size once a testament to prosperity, now marred by abandonment and decay.

Most houses, hollow shells of their former selves, stood as haunting remnants of a time long gone. The atmosphere in the village bore a palpable gloom, accentuated by the damaged infrastructure and the once-vibrant trees and plants now rendered dark and lifeless.

Before the imposing gate of the village, a group of villagers stood with expressions clouded by despair. At the forefront were four elderly leaders, their features etched with the weariness of countless struggles.

Word had spread that a member of the Dalma family was to visit today. Despite the familial connection, there was no welcome in their hearts for this impending visit. The villagers harboured resentment toward the Dalma family, attributing them as the architects of their prolonged suffering.

As anticipation hung heavy in the air, the villagers' eyes fixed on the village gate. Suddenly, a procession of four carts emerged.

The foremost cart proudly bore the symbol of the Dalma family, a stark reminder of the authority that cast a shadow over their lives. The other three carts trailed behind, designated for transportation and storage.

Confusion etched across the faces of the villagers as they awaited the arrival of these unexpected guests. The carts, laden with a mysterious purpose, became a source of intrigue and apprehension for the villagers, who stood in uneasy silence, unsure of what this visit might entail.

As the first cart arrived, Fray and Elisa gracefully stepped out onto the village soil. The four villagers at the forefront greeted them with a semblance of respect, their expressions a mix of curiosity and scepticism.

Fray's keen eyes swept over the impoverished villagers, noting their emaciated forms, even more desperate than those within the city walls. He observed young boys and girls, mirroring his age, yet with frames malnourished, and bodies half the size of his own.

Turning to the elderly leaders, Fray, addressing them, asked, "Are you the heads of the four villages ?"

The elders nodded in affirmation, and Fray proceeded to state his purpose, "I'm here to use your land for farming."

The villagers listen to Fray with scepticism, silently right away labelling him as naive. Though they refrained from uttering it aloud, they believed their initial judgment was validated. Born into privilege, Fray appeared to them as someone incapable of grasping the harsh realities of their world.

One elderly leader, emboldened by their preconceived notions, voiced their scepticism. "Our land is cursed, young Master. It yields no harvest."

Fray, though aware of their judgments on him, turned his attention to Rin, who descended from one of the carts and started walking forward. With a pointed gesture, Fray instructed, " Rin, I will leave the rest to you."

" Understood Sir " Rin replied firmly

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Turning to the hesitant villagers, addressed one of the elderly, "I need one of you to accompany my servant to the village factory."

The elderly leaders exchanged sighs, aware of the dilapidated state of the village factory. Reluctantly, one of them gestured for Rin to follow, leading the procession of carts toward their destination.

Elisa and Fray remained with the three remaining elderly leaders. Fray, undeterred, requested, "Now, take us to the village's land. I need to see it firsthand." The elderly leaders, though sceptical, led the way, uncertain of what the future held for their village.

. . .

As Fray and Elisa rode atop horses, accompanied by the three elderly leaders, they beheld the vast expanse of land unfurling before them. The landscape spanned for hundreds of hectares, a patchwork of fields draped in an odd, random white coloration that seized their attention.

In the annals of Iskar city's history books, the Four Eldrom Villages stood as the paramount and flourishing heart of Iskar territory, thanks to the expansive farming lands they commanded.

The sheer enormity of this land reached a point where even the four surrounding villages in each direction remained invisible from Fray's position. Despite the relatively flat terrain, these lands before generations had been the primary source of sustenance for Oskar City.

However, a long time ago, the bountiful productivity of the land came to a halt. The once-thriving fields ceased yielding crops, replaced by peculiar white patches that began to spread. This unexplained phenomenon led the inhabitants to believe that the land had fallen under a curse.

Fray, guiding his horse with a discerning hand, observed the peculiar white patches scattered across the terrain as he started approaching the land.

However, the three elderly leaders halted him, their expressions fraught with concern. "No! sir, the land is cursed; you can't go in. It's very dangerous."

Ignoring their warnings, Fray stepped forward onto the soil. The elderly, fearful of the supposed curse, watched in shock as he not only stood unharmed but also dismounted from his horse.

"How is this possible!?" One of the elderly mumbled in shock.

Standing on the white soil, Fray turned towards Elisa and the three elderly, saying, "Come closer."

Elisa, upon hearing the order, guided her horse and approached Fray. The other elderly, still holding expressions of shock mixed with curiosity, followed suit.

Hesitant and alert, the elderly slowly ventured onto the land. As they reached Fray, he knelt and reached for the peculiar white soil. Scooping it up, he handed it to one of the elderly leaders and calmly stated, "It's not a curse; it's salt. The soil suffers from salinity."

"Salt!?" The elderly, gripping the soil with a hesitant face, mumbled with each other in confusion.

While Elisa dismounted from her horse and examined the white soil, she thought, (It really is just salt. For hundreds of years, no one dared to even make sure what it was. Is that what he meant when he said that the supernatural aspects are the main cause of our downfall?)

The people of this world lived amidst supernatural and scary legends, blindly believing that everything they didn't understand was supernatural and dangerous.

Curses are the most dangerous concept in this world, directly related to the laws of the world. Even the previous heads of the family, including Fray's grandfather, who was a scientist, lacked the courage to investigate this cursed land. As a result, one of the city's most significant resources remained abandoned for generations.

Elisa clutched the soil in her hands, her eyes fixed on the vast expanse of land. Thoughts raced through her mind, contemplating Fray's plan. (I'm sure he has a plan, but I can't see how he will heal this entire land...)

Interrupting Elisa's thoughts, the distant sounds of approaching horses reached her ears. She turned to witness two figures on horseback making their way towards them.

(Adam! And who is that man? Wait, isn't that Montaser?) Elisa thought, surprise evident on her face as she observed the approaching duo.

Fray approached the horses, and they came to a halt at the edge of the land.

The older man riding with Adam was Montaser, the head of the Dalma servants. He dismounted and approached Fray with a smile. "Hello, young master. I heard you needed my help?"

(Adam really managed to convince Montaser,) Fray thought with happiness. Montaser was a crucial element in his plan to heal the land, and he had been uncertain whether Adam, who knew Montaser personally, could persuade him. Fortunately, the persuasion had succeeded.

"Yes, Montaser, thank you for taking the time to offer your help. I appreciate it," Fray responded sincerely.

"It's my pleasure, sir," Montaser replied genuinely before turning to Elisa, extending his welcome while Fray stayed with Adam.

"Thank you, Adam. Montaser's help is necessary," Fray expressed, looking at Montaser, who was engaged in conversation with Elisa, a warm smile on his face.

"No need to thank me. That old bastard didn't want to do it until he heard your name," Adam said, annoyed, his gaze fixed on Fray's confused expression. He continued, "It seems you piqued his interest; as soon as he heard your name, he agreed to come."

Fray, puzzled by Adam's words, turned to Montaser, curious about the reason behind the servant leader's sudden interest in him.

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